has berin effected in the old mode of castrating:, 

 except the opening of the scrotum and the di- 

 vision of the cord by the kuife, instead of the 

 heated iron. 



tii/novial or joint memhranes are interposed 

 between the divisions of the bones, and fre- 

 quently between the tendons, in order to secrete 

 a certain fluid that shall facilitate motion and 

 obviate friction. Occasionally the membrane is 

 lacerated, and the synovia escapes. This is 

 termed opened joint, and violent inflammation 

 rapidly ensues. The duty of the practitioner is 

 to close this opening as quickly as possible. No- 

 thing is so efl:ectual here as the application of the 

 cautery. A great deal of inflammation and en- 

 gorgement are produced around the opening, 

 partially, if not altogether, clo.sing it; or at least 

 enabling the coagulated .sj-novia to occupy and 

 obliterate it. Perhaps, in order to secure the 

 desired result, the whole of the joint should be 

 blistered. After this a bandage should be firmly 

 applied, and kept on as long as it is wanted. 

 If there is any secondary eruption of the syno- 

 via, the cautery must again be liad recour.se to. 



T/ie Navicular Disease is a bruise, or inflam- 

 mation, or perhaps destruction, of the cartilage 

 of the navicular bone, where the flexor tendon 

 of the foot passes over it in order to reach the 

 coflin-boue. The veterinai-y surgeon can alone 

 ascertain the existence and proper treatment of 

 this disease. Spavin is an eidargement of the 

 inner side of the hock. The splint-bones sup- 

 port the inferior layer of those of the hock, and 

 as they sustain a very unequal degree of concus- 

 sion and weight, the cartilaginous substance 

 which unites them to the shank-bone takes on 

 inflammation. It becomes bony insteaU of car- 

 tilaginous, and the disposition to this change be- 

 ing setup in the part, bony mattercontinues to be 

 deposited, until a very considerable enlargement 

 takes place, known by the name oi spavin, and 

 there is considerable lameness in the hock-joint. 

 The bony tumor is blistered, and probably fired, 

 but there is no diminution of the lameness until 

 the parts have adapted themselves, after a con- 

 siderable process of time, to the altered duty re- 

 quired of them, and then the lameness materi- 

 ally diminishes, and the horse becomes, to a 

 very considerable extent, useful. Cvrb is an 

 enlargement of the back of the hock, three or 

 fsur inches below its point. It is a strain of the 

 ligament which there binds the tendons down 

 in their place. The patient should be subjected 

 to almost absolute rest ; a blister should be ap- 

 plied over the back of the tumor, and, occasion- 

 ally, firing will be requisite to complete the 

 cure. Near the fetlock, and where the tendons 

 are exposed to injury from pressure or friction, 

 little bags or sacks are placed, from which a lu- 

 bricating mucous fluid constantly escapes. In 

 the violent tasks which the Horse occasionally 

 has to perform, these become bruised and in- 

 flamed, and enlarged and hardened, and arc 

 termed idndgalh. They blemish the horse, but 

 are no cause of lameness after the inflammation 

 has subsided, unless they become very much 

 enlarged. The cautery will then be the best 

 cure. Immediately above the hock enlarge- 

 ments of a similar nature are sometimes fowid, 

 and, as they project both inwardly and out- 

 wardly, they are termed thorough-pins. They 

 are seldom a cause of lameness, but they indi- 

 cate great and perhaps injurious exertion of the 

 joint. On the in.side of the hock a tumor of this 

 4tind, but of a more serious nature, is found. It 

 is one of these enlarged mucous bags, but very 

 (1034) 



deeply seated and the subcutaneous vein of the 

 hock passing over it. The course of the blood 

 tlirough the vein is thus in some measure ar 

 rested, and a portion of the vessel becomes dis- 

 tended. This is a serious evil, .since, from the 

 dcep-seatedness of the mucous bag, it is almost 

 impossible to act effectually upon it. It is 

 termed bog or blood spavin. 



The celhilar tissue which fills the interstices 

 of the various organs, or enters into their texture, 

 is the seat of many diseases. From the badness 

 of the harness, or the brutality of the attendant, 

 the poll of the horse becomes contused. Inflam 

 mation is set up, considerable swelling ensues. 

 An ulcerative process soon commences, and 

 chasms and sinuses of the mo.st frightful extent 

 begin to be formed. The withers also are occa- 

 sionally bruised, and the same process takes place 

 there, and sinuses penetrate deep beneath the 

 shoulder, and the bones of the withers are fre- 

 quently exposed. These abscesses are termed 

 poll evil audjistulons withers, and in the treat- 

 ment of them the Horse is often tortured to a 

 dreadful extent. A better mode of management 

 has, however, been introduced ; setons are passed 

 through the most dependent parts ; no collection 

 of sanious fluid is permitted to exist, slnd milder 

 stimulants are applied to the surface of the ulcer. 

 An abscess of a peculiar character is found 

 between the branches of the lower jaw in young 

 horses. It is preceded by some degree of fever. 

 It is usually slow in its progress, but at length 

 it attains a considerable size, including the whole 

 of the cellular tissue in that neighborhood 

 There is one unifonn mass of tumefaction. This 

 is strangles. It seems to be an effort of Nature 

 to get rid of something that oppresses the con 

 stitution, and the treatment of it is now simple 

 and effectual. It is encouraged by fomentations 

 and blisters. It is punctured as soon as the 

 fluctuation of a fluid within it can be fairly de 

 tected — the pus. speedily escapes, and there b. 

 an end of the matter. 



Farcy. — While the arterial capillaries are en- 

 gaged in building up the frame, the absorbents 

 are employed in removing that which is not 

 only useles.s, but would be poi.sonous and de- 

 structive. They take up the matter of glanders 

 and of every ulcerating surface, and they are 

 occasionally irritated, inflamed and ulcerated 

 from the acrimonious nature of the poi.=on which 

 they carry. The absorbents are furnished with 

 numerous valves. The fluid is for a while ar 

 rested by them, and there the inflammation ie 

 greatest, and ulceration takes place. This is the 

 history of the farcy cords and buds. Farcy is a 

 highly contagious disease, whether or not it be 

 connected with glanders. It, however, occa- 

 sionally admits of cure from the application of 

 the cautery to the buds, and the administration 

 the corrosive sublimate or the sulphate of iron 

 internally. 



The skin of the Horse is subject to various dis- 

 eases. Large pimples or lumps suddenly ap- 

 pear on it, and. after remaining a few^ days, the 

 cuticle peels off, and a circular scaly spot is left. 

 This is called surfeit. The cau.se is obscure, 

 but principally referable to indigestion. A 

 slight bleeding will always be serviceable. 

 Physic rarely does good, but alteratives com- 

 posed of nitre, black antimony, and sulphur, will 

 be very beneficial. Man^c is a disease of a 

 different character. It is tlie curse of the stable 

 into which it enters, for it will almost certainly 

 affect everj- Horse. Thorough dressings with 

 Barbadoestar and linseed oil, in the proportion 



